Automobile rubber-cushioned buffer front



March 10, 1931. G. H. MARSTON 1,795,727

AUTOMOBILE RUBBER CUSHIONED BUFFER FRONT Filed Aug. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I @6167- /9 6:90:76 JZZZZ JI'S'ZO 7v Patented Mar. 10,1931 A A I v v A STATES PATENT- "'FFlE GEQRGE H. Il IARST ONQOF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACI-IlISETTS I n o'roiiroiainn'an13Fnn-cnsnroivnn BUFFER FRONT I Application filed August iamefiseria Nd. 885,823. I This invention relates to improvements in Figure 1 is a" front elevation of van autoautomobile rubber cushioned buffer fronts, mobile showing a perferred form of my'iinparticularly to buffer fronts having pneuproved automobilerubber cushioned buffer matic means mountedon the .front of a car front attached thereto.

for protecting from injury a person that may Figure 2'is a side GlGVELtlOIl, partly in secbe struck by the car. i tion, of the device as shown in Fig. 1

One of theobjects of the invention is to Figure 3 is an isometric'view of a comprovide a device adapted to be" readily atplete fender member with a pneumatic tube tached to the front of a car, which will not imbedded in arubber'cushion applied thereto.

' 19 only improve the appearance of the front Figure 41- is a longitudinal section on the 30 on which au"iliary fender members are inserted in the main fender member? and co of the car, but will prevent or greatly lessen line f-A ofFig. 3. V injury to a person struck by the car, by pro- In the drawings 1 designates the front'e'nd viding pneumatic tubular means so mounted of an automobile of the usual construction, 2 and disposedion fender members 'asto present the front wheels, 3 the radiator and 4. the 5 a cushioned front on substantially the entire :cross' bar, as used on'most automobiles,lofront of the car, while the fender members cated between the forward ends of the chassis .form a safety seat adapted to catch a person springs 5. Extending longitudinally and in struck by the car, the pneumatic tubular advance .of the car is mounted the usual means being especially adapted to greatly bumper 6, which is supported fromthechassis reduce and absorb the force of the impact in of the car by suitable bars. Mounted on the such an event.v bumper 6 and extending upwardly infront Another object is to imbed and cushion each of the radiator 3 is positioned a plurality of penumatic tube of a fender member in a rublongitudinally extending fender members, ber cushion, the whole constituting acomcomprisingamain fender member 7, at tached pletely cushioned fender member,whereby no to thebumper 6, and auxiliary fender mem- 7 metal parts will be exposed and the fender bers 8, while below is located a tripper memmember rendered resilient 'from' whatever ber9, the whole constituting a buffer-front angle it may be struck. 7 on the car. The main fender member 7 is at-, Another object is to provide a fender frame tached to the bumper 6 by suitable bolts 10 mounted, having means vfor readily attachoperating with L-shaped clamping plates 11 ing the fender frame to the car, as well as on the back of the bumper 6, the arm 12 of detaching .it, and provided also with cush-- the clamping plates 11 resting on the upper ioning portions adapted to serve as addibar of the bumper6 and its body portion 13 tional cushioning means for the frame. engaging the inner sides of the bumper bars, Another object is to provide atripper memthus holding the main fender member 7 in her in advance of the main fender member, proper position on the bumper 6. If the 7 adapted to strike a person collided with so as bumper of the car is tubular in shape, it is 1 to cause him to fall rearwardly against the obvious that-the shape of the clamping plates pneumatic and cushioned fender members 11 may be changed accordingly to fit the and thus minimize or prevent injury to him. bumper, and if no bumper is on the car-' the Another object is to provide as additional main fender member 7 may be readily atsafety means a rubber covered rod at thetop' tached to the car and thus serve asa bumper of the fender frame for a person struck to as well as'a fendermember. v

catch hold of and so positioned as to be with- The main fend-er member 7 the auxiliary in ready reach. c fender members 8 and the tripper member 9 Inorder that the nature ofmy invention each consists of a pneumatic rubber tube 14:,' mayv be readily understood I have illustrated provided with end pieces15, preferably made certain embodiments of theinvention in the integral with the pneumatic tube and suffiaccompanying drawings, in which, ciently thick to retain the ends of the tube in shape when inflated, while through one of the end pieces an air tube 16 having an air valve extends to the inside of the tube. The pneumatic tube 14 is imbedded in the crest 17 of a rubber cushion 18 tapered toward its edges and secured to a metal base plate 19, in which the bolts 10 are inserted for attaching to the bumper The rubber cushion 18 extends over and entirely covers the base plate 19 including its edges, thereby providing a fully cushioned fender member in each case, having no metal parts exposed and the entire fender member being thereby cushioned and rendered resil'ent from whatever angle it may be struck. By imbedding the pneumatic tube l i in the crest 17 of the rubber cushion 18 not only is additional cushioning provided for the pneumatic tube 14, but the crest 17 of the rubber cushion will yield, follow and support the pneumatic tube i i in whatever direction the tube may be pressed, an important feature of the invention, and thus materially reduce the force of impact 1n case of collision. The air pressure in the pneumatic tubes 1e should be sufficientto render them properly resilient, yet no" hard enough to cause a rebound upon impact.

The auxiliary members 8 are mounted on a fender frame 20, which is made ofresilient metal, preferably steel, and is attached to the cross bar 4:, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or the chassis springs 5 if the car is not provided with a cross bar, the auxiliary fender members 8 being so positioned as not to interfere with the cooling of the radiator or cranking of the car. The lower end of each of the arms 21 of the fender frame is provided with an end portion 22 having a U-shaped opening 23 therein, while the upper end is also provided with a similar end portion 2 l and U-shaped opening 25, the edges of the openings 23 and 25 being adapted respectively to engage and substantially surround the cross bar 4 below and the supporting bar above, which extends between the lamps, whereby the fender frame 20 maybe readily attached to the car by simply passing the openings 23 and 25 over the bars l and and then pushing the fender frame 20'down so that the bars 1 and will enter the upper ends of the respective openings 23 and 25, the extended portions 27 and 28 serving to hold the end portions 22 and 2% securely in position on the bars iand In order to lock the fender frame 20 in position an inset plate 29, made to fit the lower part of the opening 25 and the under side of the bar .26, is insert d sidewise in the opening25 and fastened therein by a thumb screw 30 extending through the extended portion 28 and engaging a threaded opening in the inner end of the inset plate 29, or the thumb screw 30 alone may be used thus locking the fender frame 20 securely in position on the bars i and 26.

The edges of the upper parts of the openings 23 and 25 may be provided with rubber coverings 31 and 32 so as to prevent rattling of the cooperating parts. When desired the fender frame 20 may be readily detached from the car by simply removing the inset plate 29 and releasing the openings 23 and 25 from engagement with the bars a and 26.

The fender frame 20 is curved rearwardly toward the radiator 3 so as to form with the auxiliary fender members 8 in conjunction with the main fender member 7, a seat for catching and holdinga person struck by the car. The auxiliary fender members 25 are secured to the fender frame 20' at opposed flat-portions 33, between which are downwardly extending concaved portions 34 adapted to serve as additional cushioning means for the auxiliary fender members 8 and to support the fender frame 20 and prevent lb from bending or breaking by being forced'against the radiator 3 in case of collision. Thus the pneumatic, cushioned auxiliary fc: der members 8 and main fender member '4' in conjunction with the concavec portions provide complete and eifeciive cushioning means r protecting from in jury a person struck the car. At the upper end of the fender frame 26 is located an outwardly curved rod 35, which is cushioned with rubber cover and is so positioned as to be within ready reach of a person struck by the car and thus enable him to hold himself on the car until it can be stopped.

Attached preferably to the cross bar 4 or the forward ends of the chassis springs 5 is the tripper member 9, which extends below and in advance of the main fender member 7 and is provided with a pneumatic, cushioned fender member 36, son collided with so as to cause him to fall rearwardly against the pneumatic, cushioned fender members and the seat formed hereby and thus minimize or prevent in'ury b0 him, instead of throwing him forward against the pavement as br. npers in general use are apt to do. The tripper member 9 is provided with lined arms 3? attach d to the cross bar 4. by ti-clamps 38 or other suitablemeans and having connected thereto by pivots 39 at their free ends movable arms so, which are connected at their outer ends to the base plate of the fender member 36,eacn'movable arm 40 being arovided with a downwardly extending loop portion ll. The movable arms 410 are adapted to be moved by the operator on thepivots 39 from their lowered or operative position, as shown in Fig. 2, to their raised or inoperative position in front of the main fender member 7, when the car is going overrough roads, the fender member 36 being then positioned in front of the main fender member 7 and the loop portions 41 passing around the main fender member 7 as they are raised and permitting the tripper member adapted to strike a per-' "from injury. p I

vantage is the buffer front is so de'signedthat p p the front of a car and -compri'singa series weave? -9 to be -readily raised toitsinoperative position from its operative position, while if so desired, it is obvious that lever actuated means may readily be provided toeffect the operation of the tripper member 9 from the seat of the car; In order to hold the arms 40 stationary in both their operative and-inoperative positions each pivot39 is provided with suitable catch means 42 co-operating therewith and attached to th'e fixedarm 3'7.

It is evident, therefore, that the buffer front when attachedto a car providessuperior and practical cushioning means that will greatly reduce and absorb the force of impact in case ofcollision with a person, while v.car by bolts inserted in the said base plate .and secured to' L-shaped clamping plates mounted on the back of the bumper with their arms resting onthe top. of the bumper,-

the main fender member {together with the aux liary fender members. by reason of their particular arrangement in forming a; seat serve to catch and hold him in a sitting posi'-- tion, thus aiding greatly iniprotecting him Moreover, an mportant adit. may be 'readily attached to automobiles of usual constructionwith'o'ut' making any alterations in the car, while the buifer front 7 adorns the car as well as it provides protection from'injury and if so desired, the various pneumatic tubes and fender members may be painted or colored to match orharmonize with the finish of the car. It is,"further, obvious that various modifications offthe device may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Iclaimza 1. An automobile buffer front attached to the front of a car and comprising a series of horizontally disposed fender members, each consisting of a pneumatic rubber tube imbedded in a rubbercushion mounted on a base plate, the saidrubber cushionfextending over and entirely covering the top and edges of the base plate. Y

2. An automobile buffer front attached to the front of a car and comprising a. series of horizontally disposed fender members, each consisting of a pneumatic rubber tube imbedded in the crest of a rubber cushion mounted on a base plate and tapered toward its edges, whereby thecrest' of therub-ber cushion will yield, follow and support the pneumatic tube in whatever direction it may be pressed. I

3. An automobile bufier front attached to the front of a car and comprising a series of horizontally disposed fender members, each fender member being provided with a pneu' matic rubber tube imbedded in a rubber cushion and having end pieces sufficiently thick to retain the ends of the tube in shape when inflated, one of the said end pieces being provided with an air inlet tube and valve.

4. An automobile buffer front attached to the front of a car and provided with a series of horizontally disposed fender members" and acrossbar at the fender frame. v Y 7. An automobile buffer frontj attached to t-he' front of a' car and comprising-fa series.

advance of the'main fender member, each of "thesaid fender members being provided with a longitudinally extending pneumatic rubber tube imbedded in a'rubber cushion.

. 5. An automobile b-uifer'front attached to the front'of a car and comprising a series of horizontally disposed pneumatic, rubber "cushioned fender members, including a main fender vmember provided with a' base plate adapted to be securedto the bumper of the thereby securely holding the main fender member in position on the said bumperr: l1 1 6. An automobile buffer front'atta'c'hedf to stantially surround respectively a support ing bar at the upper end of the fender frame 9W nd 1 th seofhorizontally disposed pneumatiqrubber cushioned fender members, including auriiliary fenderf'rnembers mounted on a fender frame, the upper and lower ends of each arm thereof being provided with an. end portion having a U-shaped opening therein adapted to engage and thereby permit the endpo r tion with" its extended portion tOySllbStaJl- "tia lly surround. respectively a supporting bar at the upper endof; the fender frame and a cross bar at the lower end ofthefsaid,

fender frame,ithe said opening in'the upper end portion of each arm ofth'e fender frame being provided with an inset plate adapted to fit the lower part ofthe said opening as well as the under side of the said supporting the extended portionandengaging a threaded opening in the inset plate is'adapted to lock the upp r end portion andthereby the fender framein positio'n on the car;

8, An automobile b'u'fierfron't attached to the front, of a ca rian d comprising'aserie's of horizontally disposed pneumatic, rubber cushioned fender members, including *auxbar, while athumb screw extending'through flat rort ons etween h ch a e d wnwardly er member being adapted to form a seat for catching and holding a person struck by the.

car.

1 0. An automobile buffer front attached to the front of a car and comprising a series of horizontally disposed pneumatic, rubber cushioned fender members, including auxiliary fender members mounted on a fender frame, said'fender frame being provided at its upper end with an outwardly curved rod, cushioned with a rubber cover and so positioned as to be within ready reach of a person struck by the car.

11. An automobile buffer front attached to the front of a car and comprising a series of horizontally disposed pneumatic, rubber vcushioned fender members, including a main fender member, and a tripper member provided with a pneumatic, rubber cushioned fender member and attached to the car, the said tripper member extending below and in advance of the said main fender member.

12. An automobile buffer front attached to the front of a car and comprising a series of horizontally disposed pneumatic, rubber cushioned fender members, includin a main fender member, and a tripper member provided with a pneumatic, rubber cushioned fender member, the said tripper member being provided with spaced, downwardly extending fixed armsattached to the Chassis of h ar y U a p ,-each fixe a m h ing at its outer end a pivot, to which is connected va movable arm carrying the said trip- P r f e member, the a d mcvab e arm being provided with a downwardly extending loop portion. V,

13. An automobile buffer front. attached to the front of a car and comprising a series of horizontally disposed pneumatic, rubber cushioned fender members, including a main fender member, and a tripper member provided with a pneumatic, rubber cushioned fender member, the said tripper member being provided with spaced, downwardly extending fixed arms attached to the chassis of the car by U-clamps, each fixed arm having at its outer end a pivot to which is conne t a movab arm ar y ng th a tripper fender mem er, and each pivot being revided wi h at h m an perating there i h and adap ed o la k the sai movab e arms h. their low red n r sed positions, I

14. An automobile buffer front attached to the front of a car and comprising a series of horizontally disposed pneumatic, rubber cushioned fender members, including auxiliary fender members mounted on a fender frame, the said upper and lower ends of each arm of the fender frame being provided with an-end portion having means for .attaching'the said arms respectively to a supporting rod and a cross bar mounted on the car, each of the said upper end portions being provided with a thumb screw for securing the said upper end portions on the said supporting bar, and thus locking the fender frame in position on the car.

15. An automobile buffer front at ached to. the front .of a car and comprising a series of horizontally disposed pneumatic, rubber cushioned fender members, including aux- 

